Attorney general says federal charges are priority in Ron Wilson case

ANDERSON - South Carolina's attorney general said Monday that his office is focused on working with federal authorities rather than bringing state charges against Ron Wilson, the former Anderson County councilman accused in a silver scheme.

Attorney General Alan Wilson said state charges against the former councilman are "still possible," but that it makes more sense right now for the state to first work with federal agents.

"The penalties are a lot stiffer," the attorney general said in an interview with the Independent Mail. "He faces much stiffer penalties if he is convicted in a federal case."

Alan Wilson was the guest speaker for the First Monday Club of Anderson, a fairly new group that describes itself as business-focused and conservative but nonpartisan. The attorney general agreed to an interview after his speech.

Wilson said his office's investigation into the former councilman began late last fall after he received a complaint from an elderly investor.

Ron Wilson was arrested on a federal mail fraud charge April 4. Authorities said he used his business, Atlantic Bullion & Coin in Easley, to take millions from investors without buying them the silver he promised. He was released from custody after posting $1 million bail. Federal court filings indicate that an estimated 945 people invested about $90 million with Wilson. Federal prosecutors estimate that his investors lost at least $59 million.

In a separate matter, the attorney general said during his presentation Monday and during an interview that he is limited in what he can discuss about the activities of the state grand jury.

A grand jury has been investigating Anderson County, and, according to state correspondence, "potential political corruption" since March 2010. To date, the state grand jury has not issued indictments, but has offered former Anderson County Council member Bill McAbee immunity from prosecution.

"I can't talk about any case that may or may not be before the state grand jury at this time," the attorney general said Monday.

"There is a line and I am not going to cross it," Wilson said in an interview. "In fact, I am not going to get anywhere near it."

Wilson said people have the misconception that the grand jury "answers to the whims of the attorney general" and erroneously believe the jurors meet for several weeks at a time.

"These are ordinary people who meet twice a month 11 times a year," he said. "And they may be dealing with a dozen cases at any given time. ... Citizens need to know that the grand jury is independent from me. I cannot control it."

He said that a grand jury is not required to issue a report to let the public know if it is finished investigating a particular matter. Wilson said he can suggest that the grand jury issue a report if it is dealing with a matter of public interest. But the grand jury does not have to follow that suggestion, he said.

Wilson was elected attorney general in November 2010 and took office in January 2011. He said he feels as though he has spent the bulk of his time in office defending the state constitution and trying to insure that federal authorities don't usurp state rights.